Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/04/09

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Subject: [Leica] Is Eggleston in the right? What is the meaning of "limited edition"?
From: billcpearce at cox.net (Bill Pearce)
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2013 12:40:35 -0500
References: <2C55998C-6C95-4A87-BB86-3E27ECAFC300@mac.com> <3A4A0E9F-6775-4215-9A7F-9E801DA1BB17@mac.com>

We haven't gotten to the other piece of the limited edition scam: The 
Artist's proof. I've seen instances where after a limited edition is sold 
out, a flood of AP's appears. Seems like another way to get more blood from 
the turnip.

-----Original Message----- 
From: George Lottermoser
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 11:17 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] Is Eggleston in the right? What is the meaning of 
"limited edition"?


On Apr 8, 2013, at 8:54 PM, Adam Bridge wrote:

> But now, when we work entirely in digital, when any number of copies can 
> be made at very small cost, does having a limited edition make any sense 
> at all? Would you destroy an original RAW file (for example) to guarantee 
> that you'd done a limited edition?
>
> I'm left with a bad feeling. Maybe he wants a new M?
>
> Anyway, am I off base here? What are your thoughts?

There are, and always have been, many different levels of "print making."
As in every area of commerce integrity comes into play.
The integrity of the artist/printmaker? the printer? the publisher? the 
agent/dealers? all.

The actual process whether darkroom, inkjet, lithograph, woodcut, intaglio, 
or silkscreen;
whether printed with an ink roller and a spoon or on some sort of press; or 
any other technique is not the main issue.

The terms: "Limited Edition" and "First Edition" have meaning; a history; a 
tradition;
and deserve to be used honorably to preserves the integrity of all involved 
in the production, distribution and sale of the editions.

Limited Editions require numbers to establish the stated "limits."
First (and subsequent) Editions require notations establishing their 
numerical sequence.
It also helps to have an artist's signature on the print - establishing it 
as "author ized."

My read of the Eggleston judgement makes perfect sense within the tradition 
of Limited and Sequential Editions.
Had Eggleston pulled a Second Limited Edition of Dye Transfer Prints at 
exactly the same size, paper, etc.
One would have to question the integrity of that decision - and its effect 
on the "market value" of the Original Edition.
This New Edition of much larger prints on different paper, using an 
altogether different printing process, should have little to no effect on 
the "market value" of the Original Dye Transfer Edition. In all likelihood 
this New Edition will probably enhance the value of the Original Edition (in 
ways similar to the ever increasing value of a First Edition - over 
subsequent editions of our most prized authors). Since that Original Edition 
this artist has advanced in reputation and historical stature; with 
concomitant growth in his base of collectors. The more people collecting 
Eggleston - the more valuable each Dye Transfer Print in that Original 
Limited Edition - supply and demand.

The misunderstanding seems to rest in the assumption that a "Limited 
Edition"
means that One and only one Limited Edition will ever be published
from any given Negative, Plate, Block, Stone, Screen, etc.

While that may very well be the case; there have always been exceptions.
The history of a plate, wood block, lithographic stone and/or negative can 
be longer than the artist's life.
Sometimes even within the artist's lifetime changes are made to the plate 
with new prints being made, with new dates and new edition numbers.
see: <http://www.chicagoappraisers.com/rembrandt-history.html>

Bottom line: Documentation, Provenance, Signatures, Integrity of Artist, 
Printmaker, Printer, Publisher, Imprimatur, Dealer, Agent, Museum, Collector 
will determine the monetary and historical value of any particular 
artifact - whether a unique one-off or some sort of multiple.

Regards,
George Lottermoser
george at imagist.com
http://www.imagist.com
http://www.imagist.com/blog
http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist






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Replies: Reply from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Is Eggleston in the right? What is the meaning of "limited edition"?)
In reply to: Message from abridge at mac.com (Adam Bridge) ([Leica] Is Eggleston in the right? What is the meaning of "limited edition"?)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Is Eggleston in the right? What is the meaning of "limited edition"?)